One of the most beloved traditions of this season is the annual Spring Egg Hunt put on by TDRPD. This event brings together families, children, and community members for a day of fun, excitement, and the thrill of the hunt.
The Spring Egg Hunt is a time-honored tradition in Truckee, California, and has been a highlight of the spring season for generations. Each year, the event takes place on the Saturday before Easter, and hundreds of children and families gather at the Regional Park to participate in the festivities. The event is free to attend, and all children are welcome to participate in the egg hunt.
The day begins with the arrival of the Easter Bunny at 11am, who greets children and takes photos with families. At 11:30am sharp, the egg hunt begins. Thousands of eggs are hidden throughout the park, and children race to collect as many as they can.
The eggs are filled with candy and prizes, depending on which color and size is gathered. In addition to the egg hunt, there are also a variety of other activities for children to enjoy, including face painting, crafts, and games.
Throughout the years this event has been put on, there have been a multitude of games and activities. In the 90’s, the Egg Hunt included a homemade hat and basket competition, where the winners received an elaborate basket full of goodies and prizes. Over the years, the event has also had balloons, face painting, BBQs, book fairs, and games.
It has taken place in Truckee River Regional Park since its creation, but there were years where weather drove the event indoors to the Community Arts Center and Community Recreation Center. These years posed a whole new set of complications for event staff, and has since happened outdoors rain or shine.
Amy Bolton, the Event’s Coordinator for several years, reflected on the event fondly, remembering the humorous juxtaposition of the children showing up in snow boots and jackets with sweet Easter dresses underneath because of the weather. She also stated how instrumental the park crew always was for the event, always making sure the park was ready for the event. Many of those people still work for TDRPD today and are still battling the elements and working tirelessly to clear the snow off of Truckee River Regional Park.
This year, the outdoor hunt will be on top of feet of snow due to the record year we’ve had in Truckee. That won't stop the kids from trudging through to get as many eggs as they can. A welcome addition to the day is the Egg Dive, which is a fun indoor event added after the Truckee Community Pool was built. The Spring Egg Hunt was originally a whole day outdoor event, but with years of snow and colder weather, the shorter outdoor hunt paired with the indoor Egg Dive has been adopted as the optimal fun filled day.
The Spring Egg Hunt is a wonderful community event that brings together people of all ages and backgrounds. It is a time to celebrate the joys of spring and the wonderful community that the Truckee area attracts.